6 Top-Secret Sauces to Trick Out Your Grilled Meats

By
Regan Burns

They say the secret’s in the sauce, and we couldn’t agree more — how else can you turn plain grilled chicken, burgers and steaks into something worthy of your Instagram feed? In these grilling sauce recipes, relatively few super-flavored ingredients come together to create something that’s definitely greater than the sum of its parts. There’s nothing left to do but slather it on.

This sauce gives burgers a little extra zip that plain old ketchup and mustard just can’t provide. Sweet relish and cider vinegar contribute tang while paprika and other spices add depth. But when someone asks you what’s in it, don’t tell them — it’s a secret!

Why buy boring bottled sauce when it’s so easy to make your own? This is your chance to add a signature finish to your smoked brisket or ribs. According to the 5-star reviews, you can personalize this recipe even further by swapping the cola for another variety of soft drink.

This fresh stir-together sauce requires no cooking but adds major flavor to grilled chicken and fish (especially salmon). Using purchased mayonnaise cuts way down on prep time. Fresh lime juice is crucial.

Mops are used during the cooking process to season meats and help keep them juicy while on the grill. Make a big batch of this spicy apple-infused liquid and stash it in your fridge to add mouthwatering flavor to grilled meats and chicken all week long.

This rich and tangy sauce was created to accompany porterhouse steaks, but it goes well with just about any cut. Whip up a batch of this homemade condiment, sweetened with honey and flavored with allspice and black pepper, to make plain steaks extra fancy — and extra delicious.

Chimichurri is a fresh herb sauce that accompanies grilled meats. It’s often made with parsley, but in this version Melissa d’Arabian adds her own fresh spin by throwing basil into the mix. Try it with fish, as she does here, or use it to add a tangy burst of herbal freshness to grilled pork chops or chicken.